A gateway is a computer that connects two different networks together. The gateway will perform the protocol conversion necessary to go from one network to the other. For example, a gateway could connect a local area network (LAN) of computers in the school to the Internet. In that manner, an amateur radio BBS provides a gateway from the ‘air’ to the school's LAN, or vice versa.
Published in Chapter:
Software in Amateur “Packet Radio” Communications and Networking
Miroslav Škorić (IEEE Section, Austria & National Institute of Amateur Radio, India)
Copyright: © 2014
|Pages: 67
DOI: 10.4018/978-1-4666-5170-8.ch006
Abstract
In modern (amateur radio) wireless communications, we use computers. Depending on particular situations, such as employers’ and personal preferences, users can adopt more or less proprietary operating systems and related end-user programs. In emerging and developing societies, the usage of proprietary software can be costly. Not only that, contrary to so-called “open” software, the “closed” software is not able to motivate its users to upgrade those programs regularly, not only because of high prices and restricted licensing policies, but also because of its nature, which is the “closedness” of program codes, where the end-users are not allowed to change programmed software, and so assist companies in improving features of their software products. Therefore, the authors help prospective newcomers in the amateur wireless communications to become familiar with the “open” software and, as well, to encourage them in implementing many “free” software solutions at home or work.